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| Turkey votes again on president | Turkey votes again on president |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Turkish MPs have begun a second round of voting to elect a president, with a two-thirds majority needed to win. | |
| But while ruling party candidate Abdullah Gul is again expected to come first, it is thought he will only be elected in next week's third round. | |
| Mr Gul's candidacy has been highly controversial, sparking a political crisis that led to early elections. | Mr Gul's candidacy has been highly controversial, sparking a political crisis that led to early elections. |
| But since his AK Party won those polls convincingly, correspondents say it has the authority to push its man through. | But since his AK Party won those polls convincingly, correspondents say it has the authority to push its man through. |
| The country's military and secular establishment have voiced their opposition to Mr Gul, a devout Muslim whom they believe has an Islamist agenda. | The country's military and secular establishment have voiced their opposition to Mr Gul, a devout Muslim whom they believe has an Islamist agenda. |
| Mr Gul, currently the foreign minister, denies that, and has vowed to remain loyal to the country's secular constitution if he is elected. | Mr Gul, currently the foreign minister, denies that, and has vowed to remain loyal to the country's secular constitution if he is elected. |
| PRESIDENTIAL VOTE President chosen by 550 MPsTwo-thirds majority (367) needed to win in first or second roundSimple majority (276) needed if the contest reaches later rounds Q&A: Presidency battle Profile: Abdullah Gul Mrs Gul's fashion makeover | PRESIDENTIAL VOTE President chosen by 550 MPsTwo-thirds majority (367) needed to win in first or second roundSimple majority (276) needed if the contest reaches later rounds Q&A: Presidency battle Profile: Abdullah Gul Mrs Gul's fashion makeover |
| The president is elected by parliament, where the AK Party has 340 of the 550 seats. | The president is elected by parliament, where the AK Party has 340 of the 550 seats. |
| In the first round of voting on Monday, he secured 341 votes - falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to win outright. | In the first round of voting on Monday, he secured 341 votes - falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to win outright. |
| Friday's vote is expected to follow a similar pattern, with the other two candidates - Sabahattin Cakmakoglu from the right-wing Nationalist Action Party, and Tayfun Icli from the centre-left Democratic Left Party - unlikely to challenge Mr Gul. | Friday's vote is expected to follow a similar pattern, with the other two candidates - Sabahattin Cakmakoglu from the right-wing Nationalist Action Party, and Tayfun Icli from the centre-left Democratic Left Party - unlikely to challenge Mr Gul. |
| However, in a third round, a candidate needs only a simple majority to win - leading analysts to predict confidently that Mr Gul will be declared president next Tuesday, 28 August. | However, in a third round, a candidate needs only a simple majority to win - leading analysts to predict confidently that Mr Gul will be declared president next Tuesday, 28 August. |
| Army watching | Army watching |
| The foreign minister's candidacy in an earlier presidential vote in April prompted a boycott by the opposition, street protests and a warning from the military that it would not allow his election. | The foreign minister's candidacy in an earlier presidential vote in April prompted a boycott by the opposition, street protests and a warning from the military that it would not allow his election. |
| The army has kept quiet this time, but there are still fears among secularists that by controlling the presidency as well as the government, the Islamist-rooted AKP will be able to push through reforms undermining the secular constitution. | The army has kept quiet this time, but there are still fears among secularists that by controlling the presidency as well as the government, the Islamist-rooted AKP will be able to push through reforms undermining the secular constitution. |
| The military will be watching for his slightest slip, reports the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul. | The military will be watching for his slightest slip, reports the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul. |
| And there is already furious debate because Mr Gul's wife wears the Islamic headscarf. | And there is already furious debate because Mr Gul's wife wears the Islamic headscarf. |
| It is seen by some as a symbol of political Islam and is banned in all state institutions, including the presidential palace. | It is seen by some as a symbol of political Islam and is banned in all state institutions, including the presidential palace. |